ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

Observer, Volume XXIX, Issue 42, 3 July 1909, Page 22

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

THE ground was not in oondition for a good display of football last Saturday, pools of water being dotted here and there all over the fields. As soon as the ball went into one of these it stopped dead, thereby spoiling some fine attempts at passing. At Kiagsland, the principal event was the match between Corinthians and W Y.M.T. From the kick-off ge Corlathians pressed hard and Sok the play into tkeix opponente S U tr "Soven^ata^h^ ' of^Xbutp^sedthe^baUba^ Gribble intercepted and took it along the field but lost it again ball liiiii Corinthians. mm shot at goal, but missed. ' The Corinthians again succeeded in - getting the ball Forshaw passmg to lose, Rose to Harvey who had a • Slfagain. Harvey agam got it, V &Sbbk> got possession an d ra n d«g who out-manoeuvered Staples and scored a fine goal. . The rest of the . game was not very interesting, the Corinthians contenting themselves .; with defending. The game finished . Corinthians 2, „ .Y.M.T ml. The Corinthians missed Mikkleson , on Saturday. Lovell (who took his place) played more of an inside game than an outeide. Craddock got in some good head work, which was very pretty to watch, the ball shooting at times about twenty yards. He also displayed some fine footwork, tie has good judgment along with his other qualifications, bale played a splendid game. He seemed to be : at home anywhere in the field. Mar- ; vey and Forshaw had a day oil, botn > ; -vshooting wide, though Harvey putm ( one or two nice centres. Archer ■= '■ flayed very well. He seems able to play more like his old form on a wet ground. The goal he scored was ' a good one ; he only secured it alter a lot of fine footwork. Gribble put in some really good work for the W.Y.M.T. team. Whenever the ball came his way he always got it, and got away with it in the bargain, but he was unfortunate m passing, water stopping the ball, allowing the opposing side to get pos- " session. Gal way put in some splendid kicking, and the almost certain goal he saved out of a melee right in the mouth of the goal was really a splendid piece of work. Staples, the other back, played a good game, baffling the Corinthians' forwards - several times. Greenaway, the goalkeeper, deserves a lot of praise for ■ some of the shots he saved: — the two • • that passed him were- shots, that it £ fr&B impossible for anyone >to saye. >

■ On Nor 2 ground, Caledonians met V.M.C.A., the game being a very even one, although neither side showed any brilliant play; The passing at times was weird in its inaccuracy. Caledonians won by two goals to nil, both goals being scored in rapid succession, although the first one, considering the circumstances under which it was obtained, was certainly not deserved. At Devonport, Ponsonby and North Shore met, Ponsonby winning easily by five to nil. The game calls for little remark, the blue and blacks outclassing their opponents completely, especially in the second half.

If there is not land enough to go round, so as to supply the demands for it mainfested by State employees and by private citizens, what land there is should be available for all alike, and on the common sense lines of open competition. — Napier " Telegraph."

What, as a rule, are Ministerial promisee worth ? We have surely had in the past sufficient evidence of their pie-crust nature to realise that they are generally made with tongue in cheek, and are forgotten as soon as the Minister has got away from the district. — Blenheim "Express."

The long period of prosperity, and the naturally rich resources of New Zealand, should have made it impossible for anything short of a very bitter and very long world-disturbance to affect our comfort. But the country has been living up to and beyond its means and ite prospects. — Wellington "Dominion."

When the average M.P. wants the country to reward a man for some personal service, he pulls the leg of the Government to make him a policeman. In the light of the revelations made in the House, the country would do well to pass a special Act for the speedy deportation of the average politician's friends, instoad of putting them on its pay-roll ats responsible officials. — Christchurch "News."

The Hon. J. A. Millar, or the Hon. Geo. Fowlds, while little behind the Hon. Jas. Carroll in ability, are greatly his superiors in capacity and energy, which is to say that they merit the appointment of ActingPremier far more. And the appointment of either, particularly of Mr .Millar, would have given more satisfaction. — Wanganui " Herald."

Unless the condition of the colony improves during the next four months, and public opinion becomes more friendly towards the Government, Sir Joseph Ward may find, on liis return, that he has a stiff price to pay for the compliance of mem\iers with his wishes. — Irivercargill "Times.' '

It is about time the Government stepped out of this land-purchase business. They are doing more than anything else to keep the price of land and. increase the depression and the want of employment. It would be far easier and more effective to increase the Land Tax so as to compel the holders of too large estates to put the surplus in the market for sale. — Greymouth "Argus."

It is all nonsense to talk about the people being allowed to control their own railway service. The late Mr Seddon, in his time, controlled the Railway Department to suit himself, as no doubt Sir Joseph Ward does to-day, and ac doubtless his successor would do to-morrow if he had the same opportunity. To do that kind of thing is " politics." — Greymouth " Argus."

" Speak to me only with thine eyes," Hut let those eyes be clear ; A cold soon makes them otherwiseDim, swollen, red, and blear. But still, if beauty would allure When colds have made her plain, Woods' Pkppkrmint Curb will soon secure Her speaking eyes again. . ...